A police officer is being called a hero for helping a disabled man get out of a Portsmouth condominium that was on fire as firefighters reached into the flames to stop a propane leak.Click to watch News 9's coverage.Police Officer Aaron Stacy was the first emergency worker at the fire at 1177 Sagamore Road on Wednesday morning. The homeowner who called 911 said her smoke alarms were blaring, but she was having trouble getting her disabled husband out of the house.Stacy was patrolling nearby and headed to the fire. Police Capt. Frank Warchal said Stacy wasn't available to speak about what happened because he works the midnight shift and was sleeping."So he's on scene, he has a decision he has to make, and it's a risky decision," Warchal said.Despite the heavy smoke, Stacy ran inside."He found the gentleman lying in a bed and was able to get him into a wheelchair and wheel him out of the condo unit," Warchal said.Warchal said Stacy is now being hailed a hero."He definitely saved the man's life," he said. "We don't know how long he could've stayed in that building, how much he had taken in at the time for smoke or what have you, and it's a matter of minutes that could've gone by if we waited. It could've been a pretty big tragedy."The homeowner said she saw flames shooting up outside through a window.Firefighters had to make their own risky decision. They said a pipe or valve on a propane tank had broken off, possibly from falling ice. It was leaking, so as crews worked the scene, not knowing if or where gas might be pooling, two firefighters reached into the flames to find the valve and turn it off.The unit needs some external repairs and cleaning from smoke damage, but the owners will be able to move back in soon, fire officials said.The wife of the man who was rescued said she was grateful for the efforts of first-responders. Warchal said Stacy's commanders will be recommending that he receive a commendation for his efforts.12967056

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. —

A police officer is being called a hero for helping a disabled man get out of a Portsmouth condominium that was on fire as firefighters reached into the flames to stop a propane leak.

Police Officer Aaron Stacy was the first emergency worker at the fire at 1177 Sagamore Road on Wednesday morning. The homeowner who called 911 said her smoke alarms were blaring, but she was having trouble getting her disabled husband out of the house.

Stacy was patrolling nearby and headed to the fire. Police Capt. Frank Warchal said Stacy wasn't available to speak about what happened because he works the midnight shift and was sleeping.

"So he's on scene, he has a decision he has to make, and it's a risky decision," Warchal said.

Despite the heavy smoke, Stacy ran inside.

"He found the gentleman lying in a bed and was able to get him into a wheelchair and wheel him out of the condo unit," Warchal said.

Warchal said Stacy is now being hailed a hero.

"He definitely saved the man's life," he said. "We don't know how long he could've stayed in that building, how much he had taken in at the time for smoke or what have you, and it's a matter of minutes that could've gone by if we waited. It could've been a pretty big tragedy."

The homeowner said she saw flames shooting up outside through a window.

Firefighters had to make their own risky decision. They said a pipe or valve on a propane tank had broken off, possibly from falling ice. It was leaking, so as crews worked the scene, not knowing if or where gas might be pooling, two firefighters reached into the flames to find the valve and turn it off.

The unit needs some external repairs and cleaning from smoke damage, but the owners will be able to move back in soon, fire officials said.

The wife of the man who was rescued said she was grateful for the efforts of first-responders. Warchal said Stacy's commanders will be recommending that he receive a commendation for his efforts.